Whitefish painter Kim Waldman is the featured artist in December at The Purple Pomegranate.

In her mid-twenties, after graduating from nursing school, Waldman found an old toolbox full of oil paints at a garage sale. She began painting portraits of friends in hats and became interested in self-portraits.

A few years later, Waldman began painting with gouache, an opaque watercolor, and soon combined gouache with ink. Her artwork evolved into colorful and whimsical circus performers, musicians and dancers.

Over time, Waldman was captured by the creative process, and that was when birds flew into her work. Maybe it is the beauty of birds, their vulnerability or quiet intelligence, but birds have permeated her art and life in a way Waldman never could have imagined.

Waldman resides in Whitefish and recently completed the Montana Artrepreneur Program, helping her create a business called Mother Bird Art.

Meet her during Whitefish Gallery Night from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 28. Waldman’s work will be displayed throughout the month of December.

The Purple Pomegranate is located at 222 Central Ave., Whitefish. For more information, call 862-7227 or visit purplepomegranate.com.